Aerating device for vehicles, particularly omnibusses



Dec. 25, 1956 H. H. F. AHRENS AERATING DEVICE FOR VEHICLES, PARTICULARLY OMNIBUSSEIS Filed May 14, 1952 United States Patent AERATING DEVICE FOR VEHICLES, PARTICULARLY OMNIBUSSES Hermann H. F. Ahrens, Sindelfingen, Wurttemberg, Germany, assignor to Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft, Stuttgart-Unterturkheim, Germany The present invention relates to a ventilating device for vehicles, particularly for omnibusses, by means of which fresh air is admitted from the outside of the vehicle body to the interior thereof, preferably at its front end, and the vitiated or used air is discharged from the interior of the vehicle by suction hoods located on the vehicle roof at the rear end thereof.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a particularly intensive and effective ejection or drawing out of the vitiated indoor air from within the vehicle at all practically occurring driving speeds and wind conditions with relatively simple means which require little space and are of relatively small weight and to thereby obtain a particularly intensive and effective replenishing of fresh air from the outside into the interior of the vehicle without producing the unwanted effects of a draft.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a ventilation system which oflfers the aforementioned advantages and which may readily be used with vehicles of all sizes, especially with large vehicles such as busses and the like.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a ventilation system which fulfills the above demands in a simple way by means of suction hoods which are made in a shape as flat as possible and which project only slightly beyond the body contour on either side of the vehicle roof.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a ventilation system including flat suction hoods projecting only slightly beyond the body contour on either side of the roof in those places or areas where the roof passes over or merges into the body side walls with relatively sharply rounded body portions, i. e., with body portions having curvatures of relatively small radii, and particularly in those places or areas where the sharply rounded side parts of the roof pass over or merge by means of relatively softly rounded body portions, i. e., with body portions having curvatures of relatively large radii, into the side parts of the body rear wall in the course of the more or less pronounced streamlines of vehicle body. in the latter case, the suction hoods may be formed simply in that the outer shell or body covering of the side part of the roof which extends substantially in a horizontal line is not connected directly to the outer shell of the rear wall side parts, but instead is extended slightly in the horizontal direction beyond the place of transition between the side parts of the roof and the side parts of the rear wall.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a more effective ventilating device by means of suction hoods made and arranged in the above-described manner which are organic extensions of the ventilating channels positioned at the inner side of the side parts of the roof and which communicate with the interior of the vehicle body, preferably by means of slot-like openings.

2,775,185 Patented Dec. 125, 1956 Further objects and advantages of the present invehtio'h may be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing which shows for purposes of illustration only one preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention, and wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the ventilating duct system in accordance with the present invention in which the outlines of the vehicle are shown in dot-arld-daSh, phantom lines.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the ventilating device in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 3 is a perspective rear View of a suction hood in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 4 is a crosssectional view taken along line 4-4 of Figure 2, and

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional viewtaken along line 5-5 of Figure 2.

With the prior art ventilating devices in which the suction hoods or similar ventilating means were provided for the most part in the flat central portion of the roof, often extending relatively high' over the roof, and in which the introduced or ejected air was subjected often to pronounced changes of direction and sometimes even multiple changes of directions, it was impossible to attain a ventilation fulfilling the needs and purposes set out above, which are realizable only by the ventilating system in accordance with the present invention to be described more fully hereinafter.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, where-- in like reference numerals are used through the various views to designate like parts, the central part 6 of the roof of the motor-bus indicated in the drawing only in its contour, is constructed relatively flat so as to permit storage of luggage and the like.

The present invention basically refers to a well known construction of vehicle bodies in which the lateral sections or side parts, generally designated by referencenumerals 7, '7' of the roof are formed of body portions having a relatively sharply rounded curvature, i. e., of body portions with a relatively small radius of curvature as viewed in a cross sectional view substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal central axis of the vehicle. These curves side parts generally designated by 7, 7' serve to connect the substantially flat part of the roof designated by reference numeral 6 with the side walls 30, 30 of the body which ordinarily extend essentially vertically on both sides of the vehicle.

The prior art vehicle body at the rear end thereof also includes ordinarily a body rear wall 10 including side parts 9, 9 having relatively softly rounded curvatures, i. e., rounded side parts 9, 9 of relatively large radii of curvature, which connect the side walls 30, 30 of the body with each other.

The body rear Wall 10 including theside parts 9, 9' are also connected with the central part 6 and the side parts 7, 7 of the roof respectively. This is ordinarily accomplished in the prior art vehicles in that the flat central portion 6 of the roof is connected with the essentially straight portion of the body rear wall 10 by means of a relatively softly rounded transition portion and in that the side parts .7, 7 of the roof are connected with or merge with the softly rounded side parts 9, 9 of the body rear wall 10 in the areas or places indicated by reference numerals 8, 8' by means of relatively softly rounded transition portions, i. e., by means of transition portions of the side parts 9, 9 having larger radii of curvature than the side parts 7, 7'.

In the prior vehicles the outer surfaces of the lateral sections or side parts 7, 7 of the roof may be constituted by an outer shell or covering 12 of the roof, which outer shell 12 extends substantially rectilinearly at leastovera considerable portion thereof in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The inner shell or covering 13 of the roof which may be made of a plurality of connected sections is spaced from the central part 6 and the outer shell 12 by frame members 31, as is well known in roof constructions.

The present invention departs from such prior art body construction and constitutes an improvement over such prior art construction by providing ventilating hoods 11 near the joining areas or places 8, 8, where the transition portions of the softly rounded side parts 9, 9' of the body rear wall which are disposed underneath hoods 11 as indicated by the dashed line in Figure 3, merge with the sharply rounded side parts 7, 7 of the roof. The approximate location of these joining areas 8, 8' is indicated schematically in Figure 3 in which the same is indicated by a dash-and-d-otted line.

The hoods 11 are themselves formed in any suitable manner, for example by extending the outer shell 12 of the roof lateral sections or side parts 7, 7 slightly beyond these joining places 8, 8 in the same rectilinear manner in which the outer shell 12 proceeds up to the joining places 8, 8'.

The hoods 11 thereby form substantially gill-shaped lids for the rear portions 23, 23' of channels 14, 14, which are thereby afiectively extended rearwardly a slight distance beyond the normal body contours of a prior art vehicle since the portions of the outer shell 12 forming the hoods 11, which are extended rearwardly in a rectilinear manner beyond the joining places 8, 8', together with the softly rounded transition portions of the side parts 9, 9' of the body rear wall effectively constitute a duct system, as shown in Figure 5, and thus form organic extensions of the rear portions 23, 23' of channels 14, 14 as will also appear more fully hereinafter.

Figure 3 illustrates especially clearly this particular construction since the softly rounded transition portion of rear wall 9 which merges with the side part 7 is indicated therein by the hidden line underneath the hood 11.

Each hood 11 may also be slightly bent back upon itself on the side thereof adjacent the fiat roof part 6 as indicated by reference numeral 11a so as to follow thereat the downwardly softly curved transition portions of the body rear wall.

The channels 14, 14' are in permanent fluid communication with the rear extensions formed by suction hoods 11 by means of appropriate openings suitably provided in the coverings 13 and 12, as indicated schematically at 32 and 32 of Figure 2. In the actual construction, the lower walls of channels 14, 14 pass through suitable openings provided for in the inner covering 13 and merge with the rearwardly disposed edge formed by similar openings in the softly rounded transition portions of the rounded side parts 9, 9 near the joining places 8, 8'. A connecting duct portion (not shown) interconnects the forwardly disposed edges of the openings in inner covering 13 and the transition portions 9, 9 so as to seal the duct system forming channels 14, 14 against the space normally formed between the inner covering 13 and the outer covering 12 of the roof when traversing such space to reach the space formed between hoods 11 and the transition portions 9, 9.

The channels 14, 14' are also in permanent fluid communication with the inner space 15 of the vehicle by means of slots 16, so that due to the suction produced by the moving air at the rear openings 17 formed by suction hood 11 and the transition portions of the side parts 9, 9 of the body rear wall during motion of the vehicle, the vitiated air is drawn in an almost straight line into the open air through slots 16 and the rear portions 23, 23' of channels 14. 14'.

The duct system of the ventilation system including those parts 11 formed by extensions of the outer covering 12 in accordance with the present invention is indicated schematically in Figures 1 and 2 in heavy lines showing the extent thereof as it is formed by the various parts indicated therein.

The channels 14, 14' extend in a forward direction up to the front end 15 of the body and terminate in air trap openings 19, 19 arranged closely above the wind screen 18. Fresh air enters the front part of channels 14, 14' through these air trap openings, 19, 19' and, penetrates into the inner space formed by the vehicle body through further slots 16 as a result of the effect of the pressure head existing in front of the wind screen 18 while the vehicle is moving forwardly. The amount of fresh air which is permitted to enter may be controlled by swinging the throttles 20 by means of levers 21 so as to vary the amount of air permitted to enter channels 14, 14 through trap openings 19, 19'.

The channels 14, 14' terminate in the suction hoods 11 through appropriate openings, provided for in the inner covering 13, as pointed out above, whereby the lower wall of the channels 14, 14' pass over at the transition points 8, 8 into and thereat directly connects with the forward edge of parts 9, 9' as particularly clearly shown in Figure 5, wherein this transition is indicated in dotted lines.

In this manner, the front portions 22, 22 of the channels 14, 14 serve to admit fresh air to the interior of the vehicle, while the rear portions 23, 23' of channels 14, 14' serve to withdraw and eject vitiated air from the interior of the vehicle.

The extent of the range of action of portions 22, 23 and 22, 23 of channels 14, 14 may be separated by a partition wall 24, although such partition wall is not absolutely necessary for operation of the ventilating device in accordance with the present invention. It is also possible to vary the effected ranges of these portions 22, 23 and 22', 23 or regulate the intensity thereof by rendering partition walls 24 movable in the longitudinal direction within channels 14, 14 or to design the same as regulating flaps similar to the front throttles 20. Reference numeral 25 designates a ledge which is provided above the windows on the side of the body and acts much in the same manner as a gutter to collect rain water and the like and prevent the same from running over the windows.

What I claim is:

l. A ventilating device for vehicles comprising a body including side walls, a roof having sharply rounded side portions connecting said roof with said side walls, means in the front end of said roof including channel means for introducing fresh air from without said vehicle to the inside thereof, and suction hood means formed at least in part by said side portions and located in the rear portion of said roof including channel means for drawing out the vitiated air from within the vehicle, said suction hood means facing rearwardly and being located substantially at the points of transition of said roof into said side walls by said sharply rounded portions, said suction hood means being in substantial alignment with said channel means to minimize resistance to flow of air therethrough.

2. A ventilating device according to claim 1, wherein said body further includes a rear wall having side portions connected with said side walls, the side portions of said rear wall merging with said sharply rounded portions of the roof with a curvature of relatively large radius, and wherein said suction hood means are located at those points of transition of the roof where said sharply rounded portions merge with the side portions of said rear wall with a curvature of relatively large radius.

3. A ventilating device according to claim 2, wherein said sharply rounded portions extend substantially horizontally over at least a considerable part thereof and include an outer body shell, and said suction hood means are formed by extending said outer shell of the substantially horizontal, sharply rounded portions beyond the points of transition thereof with the side portions of said rear wall,

4. A ventilating device according to claim 3, wherein said channel means are provided at the inner side of said sharply rounded portions, said channel means including slit-like openings for communicating with the interior of said body, and wherein said suction hood means form substantially rectilinear organic extensions of said channel means.

5. A ventilating device according to claim 4, wherein said body includes a wind screen at its forward end, and wherein said first-mentioned channel means extend to the forward end of the interior of the vehicle formed by said body and terminate at said first-mentioned means to constitute air trap openings located slightly above said wind screen, whereby said channels serve in the forward portion thereof for the introduction of fresh air and in the rear portion thereof for the withdrawal of vitiated air.

6. A ventilating device according to claim 5, further comprising a partition wall located within and extending transversely of said channel means to form separate support and rearward duct sections.

7. A ventilating device according to claim 6, wherein said partition walls are fixedly mounted in said channel means and extend transversely thereof to form separate forward and rearward duct sections.

8. A ventilating device according to claim 6, wherein said partition walls are movably mounted within said channel means.

9. A ventilating device according to claim 6, further comprising a throttle located in the forward portions of said channel means for regulating the amount of air admitted by said openings.

10. A ventilating device for vehicles comprising a body having side walls, a rear wall with side portions connecting said side walls with said rear walls, a roof having a substantially flat portion and, sharply rounded portions of relatively small radius of curvature connecting said flat portion with said side walls, rounded transition portions of relatively large radius of curvature connecting said sharply rounded portions with said side portions, suction hood means located in those places where said sharply rounded portions merge with the side portions of said rear wall by means of said rounded transition portions of relatively large radius of curvature, channel means located on the inside of said sharply rounded portions, opening means in the forward portion of said body and communicating with said channel means for admitting fresh air into said channel means, said suction hood means forming organic extensions of said channel means, said opening means, said channel means and said suction hood means constituting an essentially rectilinear operating system to minimize resistance to flow of air therethrough, and further openings in said channel means for establishing a communication between the interior of the vehicle and the interior of said channel means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 470,540 Braidwood Mar. 8, 1892 578,356 Palmer Mar. 9, 1897 1,056,608 Walsh Mar. 18, 1913 1,594,894 Masury Aug. 3, 1926 1,687,156 Duerk Oct. 9, 1928 1,975,958 Kyle Oct. 9, 1934 2,151,097 Germonprez Mar. 21, 1939 2,171,622 Calkins Sept. 5, 1939 2,523,104 Emmert Sept. 19, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 536,793 Great Britain May 27, 1941 975,012 France Oct. 4, 1950 

